Press Release: Napa, CA—Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) announced bud break has begun in Napa Valley, marking the beginning of the winegrape growing season. “Buds on Chardonnay in the Carneros AVA are swelling and bursting,” said Brittany Pederson, viticulturist at Renteria Vineyard Management and NVG member. “These are the first signs of bud break. In the weeks to come, when the weather gets consistently warmer, the sap will start flowing and the vines will be woken up. Bud break will really start to take off then.”

Compared to last year, “bud break is about a week and a half later due to the winter rains,” said Allison Cellini Wilson, viticulturist at Cliff Lede Vineyards and NVG member. Over the 2018-19 winter, significant atmospheric rains storms soaked Napa Valley soils. In total, the valley saw an average of 35 inches of rain between November and February. “The soils have already absorbed all the water from the winter rains. We’re not seeing any stagnant water remaining out in the vineyards, which means our soils needed the saturation,” continued Cellini Wilson.

The combination of springtime temperatures and ample water has created a spectacular mustard and cover crop bloom throughout Napa Valley. Pederson stated, “The cover crop has grown in well and is looking very healthy. Right now, we’re in the vineyards preparing for the 2019 growing season, which includes cover crop management, tracking nighttime temperatures for frost potential, and wrapping up pruning.”

Done throughout the first three months of the year, pruning creates vine balance, influencing grape yields and fruit quality. When pruning, 70 to 90 percent of the previous year’s growth is removed and select cane or spur positions are left. From the remaining buds on the vine, budbreak takes place, resulting in new growth and the start of the growing season.

Cellini Wilson noted, “To start the growing season off with full reservoirs and soil profiles is ideal. Everything thus far is looking great and we anticipate a busy 2019 growing season.”